Sure, she’ll always be a little weak to the dimple in his right cheek and the way his five o’clock shadow makes him ruggedly handsome. But that’s not enough to cover every other thing about him because they all drive her nuts. Like how he’s won’t admit he’s wrong even when he knows it and how he drives his stupid car a million miles an hour on wet asphalt. As she rolls back into town and takes a seat at Crave, she won’t take the bait. She’s over him. Mostly.

Machlan isn’t over her.

It’s not because he hasn’t tried. He reminds himself over and over that she’s not the girl for him. After all, she drives him insane with her sassy attitude and the way she calls him out on everything. She beats him at poker, even though she doesn’t know the difference between a straight and a flush, and when she looks at him with her bright, blue eyes, it’s unnerving. When she climbs onto that bar stool and orders a drink, he puts it in front of her and ignores the sparkle in her eyes. He’s not over her, but she won’t know that.

But she does know that. And he knows she’s not as over him as she’s pretending to be. When life forces their hand this time, there’s more on the line than a pile of poker chips. It’s their forever.

Crave is a standalone romance in a new small town, blue-collar series from USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke. Join readers everywhere as they fall in love with the delicious Gibson Boys.

Quesarasera Book Blog Review

4 Stars!!

While not my favorite of the Gibson Boys series, Crave was an emotional ride with a satisfying ending. This is a story of more than enough chances romance. Finally, they got it right!

Machlan Gibson is one frustrating hero. Like bang you head against a brick wall frustrating. He’s got issues stemming from his childhood and a pretty hue secret he and Hadley have been hiding. Hadley is good girl who is a glutton for punishment. Over the years she gave Machlan so many chances. She’s returned to Linton to finally decide what to do about Machlan, the boy she’s loved forever.

The dichotomy between Hadley and Machlan is complex and filed with a storied past. Locke doesn’t dwell too much on what happened in the past, but gives us just enough backstory to fill in the gaps and move the book along without those pesky flashbacks. (A big thank you for that, by the way)

All the Gibson Boys make an appearance along with the feisty Nana.

Lots of emotional angst in this one that will keep you turning page after page.

USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.

Erin McCarthy’s new sexy romcom series, Tap That, begins with STRIPPED DOWN! See the stunning cover below and find out more about how you can get your hands on STRIPPED DOWN!

About STRIPPED DOWN

His best friend’s hot older sister.

Her younger brother’s annoying sidekick.

And one forbidden kiss in a bathroom in high school…

Sloane O’Sullivan is returning home to Minnesota, dreading turning thirty. Once the Mean Girl, she’s a lot more humble these days. And shocked to see how Little Dickie is all grown up and hot as hell, stripping at a charity event like he was born with biceps.

Working out has shed Rick Ryder of his despised childhood nickname. Now he leads a simple life. Work on cars, take care of his kid sister, have casual hookups. But when Sloane comes back to town single, he wants to finish what they started in that bathroom twelve years earlier.

It was complicated back then. It’s even more so now.

Because Sloane wrecks his bike.

And he’s her landlord.

And her brother will murder him if he has sex with her.

But sometimes you have to strip it all down to see what was there all along… even if it’s a secret.

STRIPPED DOWN releases later this month at a special limited time release price! Sign up for Erin’s newsletter and like her on facebook to find out when STRIPPED SEARCH goes live!

About Erin McCarthy

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy first published in 2002 and has since written over sixty novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult romance, paranormal, and contemporary romance. Erin is a RITA finalist and an ALA Reluctant Young Reader award recipient, and is both traditionally and indie published.

When she’s not writing she can be found sipping martinis in high heels or eating ice cream in fleece pajamas depending on the day, and herding her animals, kids, and amazing renovation-addicted husband.

Delaney Abbot has never wanted to live anywhere other than Spring Grove, Kentucky. She loves the town, the people, and the whiskey made right down the road at McElroy’s Distillery. If only she could find a man in her beloved small town worthy of all that love she has to give.

The first thing Reed McElroy did when he finished high school was get the heck out of Spring Grove, Kentucky. He’s happy with his life as a veterinarian in the big city, and he would just as soon never step foot in his small town again.

Delaney has had a crush on Reed since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, but he never looked at her the same way. Now that tragedy has dragged him back home kicking and screaming, Reed has no choice but to make peace with a past clouded by small-mindedness and judgment. He is forced to see his hometown through grown-up eyes, and everywhere he looks, he finds local sweetheart Delaney. It seems like everyone in Spring Grove loves her. So, why shouldn’t he?

My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork.
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.
… and did I mention I love hockey?

We are thrilled to be revealing the cover for EXQUISITE TASTE by J.D. Hollyfield! EXQUISITE TASTE is a new, hot contemporary romance and will be released on November 19th–be sure to add it to your TBR today!

About EXQUISITE TASTE

He was a dare she couldn’t walk away from.

She was a game he was determined to win.

Jensen Stone was thriving in her first year of college. So thirsty for success she could already taste the achievements on her lips. Nothing would get in the way of her dreams, not even the social pressures of pledging. Until one night, she finds herself in the lion’s den of sorority row, accepting a dare she knew she couldn’t complete.

Damien Cross was bored. He no longer craved the dominance and control he had swirling in the palms of his powerful hands. He was determined to walk away from the empire he’d spent the last ten years building. What he didn’t factor in was the unexpected distraction. He might be angry at her inconvenient timing, but the urge to break the new toy dangling in front of him was all consuming. It wouldn’t hurt to play one last time.

About J.D. HOLLYFIELD

J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she’s not cooking, event planning, or spending time with her family, she’s relaxing with her nose stuck in a book. With her love for romance, and her head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own stories to life. Living in the Midwest, she’s currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions of her new books and series, along with her charm, humor and HEA’s.

However I never planned on falling into his arms on the worst night of my life.

I never planned on initiating a chain reaction of events that neither of us saw coming.

And I never planned on needing him so much I can hardly stand it.

DEREK

Everyone has a history.

Mine’s a little worse than most.

I’ve hurt my family. I’ve hurt people I never knew. I’ve hurt myself.

And I’ve been hiding at the bottom of a bottle for so long I’m not sure how to do things differently.

Paige always struck me as the sort of uptight girl who would never give anyone a break. Little did I know what kind of mysteries she’s been keeping inside. Now I can’t get her out of my head.

We could help each other.

Or we could destroy each other.

Right now it’s anyone’s guess…

Quesarasera Book Blog Review

4 Stars!

The next member of the Gentry family, Derek, gets his HEA!

I really enjoyed this book. While this is a NA romance, it deals with some pretty heavy topics. However, Cora Brent does an amazing job with those topics. She does not sugar coat or romanticize addiction and self-harm, but she does not overpower the romantic nature of the book either. The underlying romance is really sweet. These two, slighty broken people share a traumatic experience and find comfort in each other after.

I appreciate that while Derek and Paige find comfort in each other that slowly becomes more, the book didn’t ignore or magically fix their issues. Derek’s issues with alcoholism provided conflict more than once and the reactions of his family were realistic and loving. I liked that Brent approached these topics without being preachy. However, Paige has her own issues and while they were discussed, there was less focus on her issue, which, in my opinion, is just as major as Derek’s and equally as important.

The best part of this book is the sweet romance between Derek and Paige that starts off as a slow simmer and builds until the very end. It progresses organically, for the most part. There is a slight bit of outside interference from Derek’s younger brother, Kellan. It was sweet and I was rooting so hard for these two.

A great addition to the Gentry family! Derek and Paige will steal your heart.

I flushed and tried to choke out a laugh. “It’s funny how I can’t seem to stop embarrassing myself in front of you.”

Derek shook his head like he thought I was being ridiculous. “Stop being embarrassed.”

He started moving the piles of cassettes over to the desk and then switched off the power button on the stereo. I had no idea why. Maybe he was just trying to help clean up. Then he got on the bed beside me, stretched out and extended his arm.

“Come here,” he whispered.

I obeyed. Slowly, because I wasn’t sure what he had in mind.

But Derek wasn’t after sex. He didn’t touch me while I got comfortable. Settling against his strong body seemed like the most natural act in the world. It didn’t feel dirty or even erotic. He switched off the bedside lamp, wrapped his arms around me and let me fall asleep with my cheek next to his beating heart.

And there I slept all night, more soundly than I thought possible…

Cora Brent was born in a cold climate and escaped as soon as it was legally possible. Now, she lives in the desert with her husband, two kids and a prickly pear cactus she has affectionately named ‘Spot’. Cora’s closet is filled with boxes of unfinished stories that date back her 1980’s childhood and all her life she has dreamed of being an author. Amazingly, she is now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling writer of contemporary romance and begs not to be awakened from this dream.

But the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that there’s so much I don’t know. Like why his touch sets off a chain reaction straight to my nethers. Or how I’m certain each kiss is the best I’ll ever have, until the moment his lips take mine again.

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Ms. Romance believes in true love and soul mates. Mr. Reality believes love is a term humanity has assigned to the primal instinct to procreate. She believes in fate—he in chance. She knows there’s one right person for everyone—he knows there are multiple ones. The two writers couldn’t be more polarized on relationships. They’re professional rivals, and philosophical antagonists.

For eight years, their battles have been fought with words and ink. That changes when they apply for the same position at the World Times and find themselves face-to-face for the first time. Brooks isn’t the sour-faced, antiquity of a man Hannah pictured. And Hannah isn’t exactly the middle-aged shrew with cat hair on her housedress that Brooks imagined either.

In lieu of competing for the promotion traditional ways, the two writers are presented with playing the leading roles in a social experiment unlike any before. Can a person be tricked into falling in love? Can a relationship be crafted under the right string of circumstances? Hannah knows the answer. So does Brooks.

Agreeing to the terms, the two set out on a three-month dating experiment, live-streamed for the world to watch. All Hannah has to do to win is not fall in love with the narcissistic brute. All Brooks has to do is get the starry-eyed dreamer to fall in love with him. Both are so confident in their philosophies, they expect the challenge to be easy.

With the world watching, Brooks and Hannah will be forced to confront their beliefs and conclude, once and for all, who’s right. The answer is one neither of them saw coming.

Quesarasera Book Blog Review

3.5 Stars!

I enjoyed this book. Nicole Williams’s writing is always fun and she has a great knack for creating the perfect H and h. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope and the twisty little way Williams went about it was clever and fun. The acerbic banter between Brooks and Hannah was fun with a decidedly sexy undertone. The chemistry is steamy and the denial was a nice side dish. My complaint was that it took me a while to really get into the book. It picks up steam a little beyond half way but prior to that I often skimmed.

Overall a good read.

“Where do you think you’re going?”
I jolted. Brooks had an annoying talent of being able to appear out of thin air. “As far away from this dance floor as I can get.”
“But we haven’t danced yet.” Brooks crept in front of my path, forcing me to stop or crash into him.
Braking to a stop, I shot him a look. “I’ll be sure to shed some tears for that later. When I’m asleep.”
“Someone’s notably grumpier now than they were earlier.” His eyes narrowed in an investigative kind of way. “Methinks you weren’t totally forthcoming about you minding if I danced with other women.”
The cameraman was leaning in, our ever-present third wheel, but I didn’t feel the need to lower my voice. “Methinks you were onto something when you expressed trepidation over your manhood’s functioning properties after tonight.”
Brooks let out a low whistle. “Under the right circumstances, those words, from that mouth, would be such a turn-on.”
“The right circumstances being what? Your standing appointment with a dungeon and a dominatrix?”
One dark brow lifted. “Bad kitty.”
“No. Grumpy cat.” I circled my face before going around him.
His arm whipped out, cinching around my waist to draw me back to him. “Let’s see if I can help with that.” His hand found mine, lifting it, while his other secured at my back, bringing me closer. And closer.
And . . .
“Brooks,” I hissed, remembering the camera before I put into words what I’d just felt.
He didn’t appear the slightest bit fazed. “What was that about my functioning manhood?”
“I don’t want to feel it digging into my stomach when I’m trying to focus on tangoing.”
“Then you shouldn’t have worn that dress.”
“And we’ll lump that in the category known as victim-blaming,” I muttered, trying to ignore the hard swell rubbing against my midsection.
“It’s not your fault my dick has a thing for your dress.” Brooks didn’t lower his voice at all. “It’s his fault, one hundred and ten percent. Total case of dick-blaming right here.”

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

Delaney Abbot has never wanted to live anywhere other than Spring Grove, Kentucky. She loves the town, the people, and the whiskey made right down the road at McElroy’s Distillery. If only she could find a man in her beloved small town worthy of all that love she has to give.

The first thing Reed McElroy did when he finished high school was get the heck out of Spring Grove, Kentucky. He’s happy with his life as a veterinarian in the big city, and he would just as soon never step foot in his small town again.

Delaney has had a crush on Reed since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, but he never looked at her the same way. Now that tragedy has dragged him back home kicking and screaming, Reed has no choice but to make peace with a past clouded by small-mindedness and judgment. He is forced to see his hometown through grown-up eyes, and everywhere he looks, he finds local sweetheart Delaney. It seems like everyone in Spring Grove loves her. So, why shouldn’t he?

b

Quesarasera Book Blog Review

4 Stars!

I wrote a note when I started reading this book that reads, “This starts off with a bang… literally. lol!” I am not kidding. I really does. I thought it was one of the best opening chapters I have read in a book. You’ll see what I mean.

After the first chapter, things slow down a bit as we are introduced to Delaney Kate and Reed. Honestly, Reed is a bit hard to love at first, but he will quickly grow on you once he gets over himself. Delaney Kate is a spitfire and so much fun to read. The secondary characters were perfect and the town is a character in and of itself. The story is endearing, two life long friends who had a falling out and are now reunited. Not a second chance romance, but more an eye-opening, come to Jesus realization of long-simmering feelings. Well, for one of them, at least.

This is a fun, entertaining read with laugh out loud moments and moments that bring out all the feels!

My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork.
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.
… and did I mention I love hockey?

Fluent in sarcasm, Supernatural, and song lyrics, I like talking to people and finding what makes them tick, though that probably has to do with the Psychology degree. I’m up before the sun because my kids don’t sleep, chugging tea and coffee to keep my eyes open and my brain semi functional. Being married to a man in uniform means I’ve lived a lot of places, survived seeing my husband for half the amount of time I’ve been married, and spent a lot of time raising my kids alone.

I love to write messed up psychos with lots of angst, happily ever afters that have to be worked for. Women with sass and backbone, men with a twisted hero complex and the need to control are my favorite to read as well as write.

For seventeen years, I have lived and breathed those words. But there is no balm to the war inside my soul.

Until her.

The mysterious beauty too lethal to taste. She’s a thief, a con, the essence of everything I loathe. Still, she lures me in with her lying eyes.

In the dark of night, she came to confess her sins, and in the light of morning, I plotted to steal her away.

She will be my ruination. My damnation. My biggest regret.

So help me, God.

**

Gypsy

A word of advice? Don’t show me your vulnerabilities because I will find a way to exploit them. I learned the hard way to take what I want from life with no regrets.

Until him.

He’s one of the most hated men in America. A soulless criminal attorney. A recluse. And as of five minutes ago, my new husband.

He wants to keep my secrets and collect my tears, but he should know that a wild animal can’t be domesticated.

I don’t know how to love men. I only know how to leave them.

With everything I want.

Quesarasera Book Blog’s Review

4.5 Stars!!!

Confess is a fast-paced, suspenseful, sexy romance. It is a page turner that will suck you in from the first page and keep its hold on you until the very end. Seriously great character development adds layer after layer to the already rich plot. Mystery and suspense combine with a palpable chemistry between our H and h. Zavarelli spares no reader and throws a twist that had me screaming and crying.

I walked into my office and found the tall, leggy brunette waiting for me. She wasn’t the only one either. Beside her, Ace played around on his phone while Birdie flipped through a magazine.

I wasn’t surprised to see her this soon. In all honesty, I’d expected her to show up at my door last night, demanding to have Ace removed from her presence. But it appeared as though they survived the night, just barely.

“May I have a word with you?” Gypsy asked.

“You may,” I told her as I checked my watch. “In thirty minutes. When my lunch is finished.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she planted her hands on her hips as she stood. “You must be joking.”

“I don’t joke,” I responded flatly.

She stalked forward, stopping only when she’d breached the narrow distance that few people ever dared to try with me. She was reverting to her baser skills of seduction, but I doubted she even realized it. The instinct came naturally to her, often rewarding her with whatever she wanted, and admittedly, it might have worked on me too once.

She smelled of coconut oil and sunshine, and it encouraged a vivid image of her lying out on the beach. I could almost bet that if I were to touch her skin, it would be warm too. So warm that it would be easy to get lost in. She probably counted on it, but I was prepared to let Gypsy know from the start how this game would be played. There were only one set of rules, and they were mine.

“Do you want me to throw a fit?” she threatened as her eyes darted around my office. “Because I will.”

Now that was funny. My lips tilted despite my resolve to remain dry as toast.

“Do you think it would be the first time someone threw a fit in here?” I asked her. “I’m sorry to tell you sweetheart, but it wouldn’t.”

“It would probably be the first time someone accused you of holding them hostage in front of your employees.”

I turned and gestured for her to go ahead.

“Be my guest.”

Her lips tightened, and she clamped down on her jaw. After watching her for so long, these unintelligent threats from her were a disappointment. Of course, she wouldn’t make a scene because she had more to lose than I did.

“Thirty minutes,” I repeated. “I’ll have my secretary call for you when I’m finished.”

I walked into my office and shut the door behind me.

A. Zavarelli is a book junkie, cat lover, and traveler when plagued by intense cases of wanderlust. She likes all things chocolate, books that come with warnings, and putting her characters through hell.

Her tales have been known to flirt with darkness and sometimes court it unabashedly altogether. Revenge themes and tortured souls are her favorites to write and this gives her an excuse to watch bizarre and twisted documentaries in her spare time.

She is slightly obsessed with Theo James and funny animal memes. If you don’t mind these things, you should add her on facebook.